Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Exams – 17 March 2018

1. Adhiban wins Reykjavik Open.

Baskaran Adhiban clinched the 33rd Reykjavik Open in what was his maiden attempt at the competition on Wednesday night. Adhiban, who has been in top form in the tournament, locked horns in the final round against Mustafa Yilmaz and a drawn affair was more than enough for the Chennai lad to seal the deal. Adhiban’s impressive run saw him finish with 7.5 points out of a possible 9.

2. Jackie Shroff’s ‘Shunyata’ wins international award.

Actor Jackie Shroff’s short film ‘Shunyata’ has won an award at Best of India Short Film Festival in Los Angeles, US.

The 22-minute fiction film directed by Chintan Sarda was selected to be in top six from amongst thousands of entries and was played at a theatre in Los Angeles for a ticketed event for a week. An industry based jury then adjudged it the best film, read a statement. The award ceremony was held at Mack Sennett Studios on March 3. The prize includes a cash prize of $1,000.

3. India to host International Competition Network Annual Conference for the first time from 21st to 23rd March 2018 at New Delhi.

India to host 17th Annual Conference of International Competition Network 2018 (ICN2018) from 21st to 23rd March 2018 in New Delhi.

While addressing the press conference, Competition Commission of India’s Chairperson Shri Devender Singh Sikri said that this is the first time India is hosting the ICN2018 Annual Conference since it joined International Competition Network (ICN) in 2009.

CCI Chairperson Shri Sikri said that the ICN is an informal network comprising 138 competition authorities from 125 jurisdictions.

These roadmaps, which operate between 2018 to 2020, lay out detailed interventions which will be taken by the three participating States- Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha – aiming to become ‘Role Model States’ in school education.

Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a $120 million loan agreement for completion of works for double-tracking and electrification of railways tracks along high-density corridors to improve operational efficiency of Indian railways.

The tranche 3 loan is part of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility for Railway Sector Investment Program approved by the ADB Board in 2011. The loan amount will be used to complete the ongoing works commenced under earlier tranches

India has offered Madagascar 80 million US dollars Line of Credit for agriculture and mechanization.

President Ram Nath Kovind, who is in Madagascar on the second leg of his two-nation, said, India is keen to bring in expertise, and replicate infrastructure success stories in other African countries through India’s LOC financing. He further added that India is also keen to enhance and strengthen its partnership with Madagascar

7. Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book, titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book, titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’. SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala lauded Dalmiya’s role in strengthening the Asian Bloc.

Dalmiya’s son, Avishek, joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was invited to receive the commemorative book.

8. Tata Sons head Chandrasekaran elected IISc President.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran was elected President of the court of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for three years.

“Chandrasekaran has been elected as the 8th President of the institute for the period 2018-21 and takes over from K. Kasturirangan,” said the city-based institute in a statement here.

Kasturirangan is the former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, a former member of the now defunct Planning Commission and a former Rajya Sabha member.